Fitness, nutrition and lifestyle blogger from the pacific northwest.
All tagged IIFYM
I know a lot of people think it's totally crazy that I weigh and measure my food to track every gram of carb, fat, and protein I eat. Sometimes even I am over it! But mainly, I'm on it haha!
What I like about counting macros, or flexible dieting, is that there are no "bad" foods. I can have any food, so long as I am conscious of how much of that food I have. Now, just because I can have anything doesn't mean I should have anything. Obviously, I know my body will
The next several weeks promise to be a whirlwind of festivities, from company celebrations to Secret Santas, gift baskets, family dinners, and parties with friends. All your favorite seasonal treats are on the menu, and if you're like me, you might be planning to bake a few too! This is my favorite time of year. But while I fully plan on taking advantage of all this season has to offer, I'm also mindful of my nutrition and fitness goals.
Sometimes, counting macronutrients (see my post What is Flexible Dieting) can be overwhelming. When I first started this meal planning method, I was helping to manage our CrossFit gym, working full time, and trying to pay off $165,000 in student loans in just over three years. Needless to say, I was stressed AND pressed for time. I needed macro-friendly options that were quick and easy to throw together as I ran from one thing to the next.
In addition to ensuring our body can perform the basic functions it needs to survive, protein helps satisfy hunger for longer periods of time and aids in muscle recovery.
For some, increasing their protein can be daunting. I hear time and time again, I just can't eat that much meat! Or for some, I just don't like to eat that much meat! While I'd recommend whole proteins like egg whites and lean sausage for breakfast, there is hope for those that don't have a taste or the time for that type of breakfast fare!
There are a few things that infuriate me more than any other things, and they are lying, airports, being cold, and hanger. Hanger, or the state of anger caused by hunger, is a real thing. Even if it isn't yet defined in Dictionary.com (I checked).
When I'm hungry, LOOK OUT!
Flexible dieting is a way of achieving specific aesthetic and fitness performance goals by determining the amount of calories necessary to sustain your energy on a daily basis, and then adjusting those calories and macronutrients (macros) to your specific goals.
Huh?
Let me break that down.
A few months ago I visited Brick Boston while in town for work. As we warmed up, the coach observed, "So, you must have been a gymnast."
"Nope!"
"A chearleader then."
"No."
"Well you had to have been something."
I laughed because it couldn't have been further from the truth.
I've always enjoyed baking. For me, it's a quick sense of accomplishment that ends with a sparkling clean kitchen AND a yummy dessert. What's not to love?! Now, cooking on the other hand...not so much.
